New Zealand Elects to Bat Against India in Third Test

AFP/APP

Mumbai: New Zealand’s captain Tom Latham won the toss and chose to bat first against India in the third Test match in Mumbai on Friday. The Black Caps, who secured their first-ever Test series victory on Indian soil last week, are aiming for a clean sweep with a 3-0 finish in the three-match series.

New Zealand made two changes from their squad that triumphed in the second Test, bringing in leg-spinner Ish Sodhi and fast bowler Matt Henry, who has recovered from injury. Notably, Mitchell Santner, who took 13 wickets in the second Test, is sidelined due to a side strain, while Tim Southee is also absent from the lineup.

Ajaz Patel, a left-arm spinner returning to his birthplace, will play in this match after achieving the remarkable feat of taking all 10 wickets in an innings during New Zealand’s previous tour to India in 2021.

On the other side, India, captained by Rohit Sharma, is determined to avoid a series whitewash before their five-Test series in Australia later this month. The hosts have made one change from their 113-run defeat in Pune, with Mohammed Siraj replacing the unwell Jasprit Bumrah.

Teams:

India: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rohit Sharma (capt), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant (wk), Sarfaraz Khan, Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Ravichandran Ashwin, Akash Deep, Mohammed Siraj.

New Zealand: Tom Latham (capt), Devon Conway, Will Young, Rachin Ravindra, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Blundell (wk), Glenn Phillips, Ish Sodhi, Matt Henry, Ajaz Patel, William O’Rourke.

Umpires: Michael Gough (ENG), Richard Illingworth (ENG)

TV Umpire: Paul Reiffel (AUS)

Match Referee: David Boon (AUS)